City News Service is reporting that a Long Beach oil transport company agreed to pay $1.3 million and discontinue using a section of pipeline near Pyramid Lake to settle a lawsuit brought by U.S. environmental regulators, it was announced today.
The agreement resolves a complaint filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in U.S. District Court against Pacific Pipeline Systems for the discharge of crude oil into the lake, located 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
In March 2005, a landslide caused a portion of the company's pipeline that runs from Bakersfield to Los Angeles to burst, according to the EPA.
The resulting break discharged about 3,393 barrels of oil, much of which flowed into Pyramid lake, which is part of the California Aqueduct and is a potential drinking water supply.
Water delivered to the public was not affected by the accident, the EPA noted.
As part of the settlement, PPS will discontinue use of about 70 miles of the pipeline that travels through the Tehachapi Mountains, portions of which are geologically unsound, EPA officials said.
The agreement resolves a complaint filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in U.S. District Court against Pacific Pipeline Systems for the discharge of crude oil into the lake, located 60 miles northwest of downtown Los Angeles.
In March 2005, a landslide caused a portion of the company's pipeline that runs from Bakersfield to Los Angeles to burst, according to the EPA.
The resulting break discharged about 3,393 barrels of oil, much of which flowed into Pyramid lake, which is part of the California Aqueduct and is a potential drinking water supply.
Water delivered to the public was not affected by the accident, the EPA noted.
As part of the settlement, PPS will discontinue use of about 70 miles of the pipeline that travels through the Tehachapi Mountains, portions of which are geologically unsound, EPA officials said.
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